Ramsdale sends strong message to Arteta over Arsenal captaincy

England international Aaron Ramsdale has thrown his hat into the ring as Mikel Arteta decides on the Arsenal captain for next season.

Ramsdale joined the Gunners in the summer transfer window from Sheffield United following their relegation from the Premier League.

The fee Arsenal paid the Blades for the 23-year-old could eventually rise to £30m depending on a number of performance-related add-ons.

But Ramsdale has already started repaying Arsenal with a number of standout performances this term and has won over many Gunners fans who had doubted his ability.

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Alexandre Lacazette was chosen by Arteta to take the captain’s armband until the end of the season when the Frenchman’s contract runs out.

And Ramsdale thinks he could do a good job if given the chance next season by the Arsenal boss.

“Listen, I’d take the responsibility but that’s down to the manager,” Ramsdale said in FourFourTwo.

“We’ve got a lot of strong characters, though, and a lot of people who I think would be good captains.

“Just to be told ‘you’re in a leadership role’ – I’d relish whatever. You never turn down a captaincy and I think I’d excel if I was given the armband, but that’s down to the boss.”

Ramsdale replaced Bernd Leno as the Gunners’ number one earlier in the season and the England international has praised his German colleague for pushing him all the way this season.

“With Bernd Leno pushing me every day, I know I can’t sit back and take it easy, because he’ll take the No.1 spot off me just as quickly as I took it off him,” Ramsdale added.

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